Article of earthenware.



B. G. STOVER.

. ARTICLE OF EABTHENWARE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 11, 1906.

Patented Dec. 14, 1909.

UUUEQLUUQUU WITH E8ES UNITED STATES PATENT @FFTQE.

EDWARD C. STOVER, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE TRENTON POT- TERIES COMPANY, 0]? THEN TON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

ARTICLE OF EARTHENWARE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14, 1909.

The ur ose of m 1 invention is to rovide an improved method of manufacture of articles of earthenware such as porcelain bath tubs, laundry tubs and sinks. My invention enables these articles to be made from vitreous earthenware, and this is a great advantage, for such earthenware does not substantially absorb water and is very desirable for the purpose, but the methods of manufacture heretofore employed have not admitted of its use.

My invention consists in making the articles above specified with the bottom and sides having cavities therein. Besides these, the sides of the tub are provided with holes which may extend nearly from top to bottom and may be round, oval or oblong in cross section, and the bottom of the tub or sink is provided with cavities which are preferably open downwardly. The articles can be made in this way by putting the clay into molds, the bottom of which is provided with blocks or pieces of plaster or other material, which will form the desired cavities in the bottom of the molded article, and the openings in the sides can be made by placing in the mold cores made of combustible material, such as paper or saw dust which will burn out during the operation of burning the tub in the kiln; or the cores may be made of wood or plaster or metal and may be withdrawn from the molded article when it is set on end to dry. As an alternative method of manufacture, I may make the sides of the tub of double pieces having registering grooves which, when placed together and before firing, will constitute cavities extending from top to bottom; or the grooves may be formed in only one of the sections.

My invention is of great advantage because it not only lightens the tub, which is important, but it prevents twisting of the same during the burning operation, and thus enables me successfully to make these articles of vitreous or other ware and to secure a shapely and strong product. I preferably carry out my invention by a single firing operation.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which shows a bath tub 2 having on the bottom cavities 3, 3, which are open downwardly and are formed during the molding operation, as above de scribed; and has in the sides and ends vertical openings 4c, which extend from the bottom of the tub upwardly to, but not quite through, the roll rim of the tub.

It will be seen that my invention is of great utility when the tub is finished both on the inside and outside, since the cavities enable the gases and water of combination to escape readily. In tubs in which the walls are of solid construction and which are finished both inside and outside, it has been found that a very large percentage of such tubs dunt or break, which breakage is attributed to gases remaining in the walls of the tub and which has been unable to escape by reason of the glazing of both the inner and outer surfaces of the tub.

The shape and arrangement of the cavities may be varied by those skilled in the art, since What I claim is:

l. A new article of manufacture consisting of a single fired tub of earthenware having passaged walls and finished both inside and out by one firing operation.

2. An article of vitreous earthenware having passaged walls and finished on'both the inside and the outside by one firing operation.

3. A single fired article of vitreous earthenware having passaged walls.

4:. The herein described process of manufacturing articles of earthenware which con sists in firing and finishing an article of earthenware with passaged walls on both the inside and outside by one firing operation.

5. The herein described process of manufacturing articles of earthenware which consists in molding an article of earthenware with passaged Walls and in firing and finishing the said article both inside and out by one firing operation.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, July 30, 1906.

EDWARD C. STOVER.

Vitnesses 7 THOMAS \V. BAKEWELL, JOHN A. CAMPBELL. 

